Biomedical Science - Washington University in St. Louis: United States

Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport?

She took up Para swimming and Para triathlon in 2012 in Chicago, IL, United States of America. She first tried Para Nordic skiing in 2016 at the Central Cross Country Ski Association in Madison, WI, United States of America.

Why this sport?

"It was good cross-training for Para triathlon."

Training Regime

She trains four times a week, for around two-and-a-half hours a day.

Senior International Debut

Year

2017

Competing for

United States

General Interest

Memorable sporting achievement

Winning two gold medals at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 29 Mar 2018)

Most influential person in career

Her teammates. (Athlete, 29 Mar 2018)

Hero / Idol

US Para Nordic skier Oksana Masters. (Athlete, 29 Mar 2018)

Awards and honours

In 2015 and 2018 she was shortlisted in the Best Female Athlete with Disability category at the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly [ESPY] Awards in the United States of America. (fasterskier.com, 11 Sep 2018; paralympic.org, 22 Jun 2018)

She was named the 2014 Female Para Triathlete of the Year by USA Triathlon. (fasterskier.com, 11 Sep 2018)

Other sports

She represented the United States of America in both biathlon and cross-country skiing at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, claiming gold in both sports. She has also competed in Para triathlon, winning gold in the PT1 category at the world championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Jan 2019; wts.triathlon.org, 25 Jun 2017; tri.com, 03 Mar 2015)

Ambitions

To compete in triathlon at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (teamusa.org, 02 Jan 2019)

Impairment

She was born with spina bifida. (triathlon.org, 20 Nov 2015)

Other information

NATIONAL FIRSTShe became the first female athlete representing the United States of America to win a gold medal in biathlon at the Paralympic Winter Games by claiming victory in the 6km sitting event at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. (SportsDeskOnline, 05 Dec 2018; pyeongchang2018.com, 10 Mar 2018)

QUICK SUCCESSShe won a gold medal in both biathlon and cross-country skiing at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, having only taken up Para Nordic skiing in 2016. "Going into the Games I was just hoping to maybe win a medal, so to win two golds was incredible. I still feel pretty new to the sport so I'm trying to take all races as learning experiences. There's a lot you can learn by practising and training but on some level, you just have to get into races and do them to get better." (teamusa.org, 02 Jan 2019; fasterskier.com, 11 Sep 2018; paralympic.org, 13 Jul 2018)

OCCUPATIONShe works as technical support for a company that provides health care software to hospitals and other medical facilities. (teamusa.org, 24 Aug 2018)